Seat, for automobiles or the like

ABSTRACT

A seat for an automobile or the like, comprising a backrest fitted with a frame  10  and an adjusting device inside the backrest in the region of the lumbar vertebral column, characterized by the features below:  
     an elongated, resiliently bending element running transversely inside the frame,  
     two bowden cables each with a sheath and a traction wire,  
     a drive device at the backrest to exert a tension on the traction cables,  
     one rest for each bowden cable sheath in each end zone off the elongated element and through which the traction wire is made to pass in longitudinally displaceable manner, and  
     an affixation of the free end of the traction wire at a part of the backrest frame facing it whereby the elongated element is suspended in such manner in the frame that, when a tension is exerted on the traction wire, the elongated element shall be moved forward.

[0001] The invention relates to an automobile seat, in particularcomprising an adjustable system in the back rest in the region of thelumbar vertebra as defined in claim 1.

[0002] There is a need regarding the backrest of seats such asautomobile and office seats and armchairs to adjust the lordotic regionin controlled manner in hardness and contour in order to effectivelysupport the anatomically proper curvature of the spinal column alsoduring prolonged sitting. Where called for the position also shall beheight-adjustable to allow contour or hardness adjustment in tallerpeople whose lordotic region is somewhat higher, whereas a zone situatedfarther below shall be selectable as regards shorter people.

[0003] The German patent 199 24 591 describes a system implementingpadding enhancement for a seat's backrest which comprises a number ofleaf spring elements in the lordotic region that run transversely to thebackrest and act as padding support. The longitudinal support may bedeformed in a direction perpendicular to it. An adjusting device allowsdisplacing the spring element in the zone of the longitudinal supportwhereby the shape of the padding support will change. Said knowndocument also discloses using at least one resiliently supported elementthat may be moved to-and-fro the seat surface and/or the backrestsurface. A telescoping adjustment system comprises at least two mutuallynesting cylindrical tubes of which the threaded segments cooperate insuch manner that upon rotation of the outer tube, the inner tube shallbe adjusted in the direction of the common axis, the outer tube beingrotatable but axially fixed in position, and said adjustment system isused to drive the resiliently supported element. The adjustment system'souter tube is linked to a rotational drive element.

[0004] The German patent 23 39 069 discloses a vehicle seat which alsoallows supporting the backrest vertebral zone by making the backrestbulge in the lordotic region. The bulging zone may be made to more orless pre-bulge at appropriate time intervals. The purpose is to attainalternating enlargement and reduction in size of the intervertebralspaces in order to improve the metabolism of the intervertebral disksand of the tissue surrounding latter.

[0005] The objective of the present invention is to create a seat, inparticular for automobiles, which is fitted with a padded support and ofsimple design as well as integrable, said padded support's positionbeing controllable using simple means.

[0006] This goal is attained by the features of claim 1.

[0007] The invention makes use of an elongated and elastically bendingelement running transversely to the back rest, namely in the lordoticregion of the seated person. Said elongated elastically bending elementruns across the full width of the backrest, i.e. of the backrest'sframe. Said elongated element may be made integrally from a suitableplastic. However and in another embodiment of the invention, it also maybe made of spring steel clad by a plastic.

[0008] Said elongated element is connected at its ends to two bowdencables. As is known, bowden cables consist of a traction wire guidedwithin a sheath. In the present invention, one end of said cable islinked to a drive device preferably mounted on the backrest and theother cable end is affixed to the backrest frame. The bowden sheathrests against a mating stop of the elongated element passing saidtraction wire in longitudinally displaceable manner. When a pull isexerted on the traction wire, the longitudinal element is constrained tomove relative to the backrest frame. When the traction wire isappropriately connected to the backrest frame, the elongated element maybe displaced forward in this manner, the magnitude of this excursiondepending on the adjustment range of the drive device. Preferably and asseen in the direction of sitting, the traction wires are connected tothe backrest frame in front of the elongated element, that is, theyshall be connected in particular to the lateral frame segments. As aresult the elongated element is suspended in adjustable manner from thebackrest frame.

[0009] The pull on the traction wires may be manual, for instance usinga handwheel or a lever generating a tensile motion through theintermediary of a slide, a spindle or the like. A locking winch or thelike also may be used. As an alternative to a manual drive device, anelectrically driven tension device integrated into the backrest also maybe used.

[0010] In one embodiment of the present invention, the traction wiresare linked through a spring to the backrest frame.

[0011] In another embodiment of the present invention, the elongatedelement in the backrest is supported in height-adjustable manner and canbe set by a second drive device at the desired height. As a result thelordotic region of a sitting person may be accommodated.

[0012] It is understood moreover that the elongated element may bedriven periodically using an appropriate automated drive device in orderto massage the spinal column and the lumbar region of the sittingperson.

[0013] A flexible mat or grid is conventionally integrated into thebackrests of motor vehicles. In one embodiment of the present invention,the said elongated element is suspended from such a grid or mat in theframe.

[0014] An illustrative embodiment of the present invention is elucidatedbelow in relation to the drawings.

[0015]FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective of a backrest fitted with asystem of the present invention, and

[0016]FIG. 2 schematically shows a horizontal section through thebackrest of FIG. 1.

[0017]FIG. 1 shows a frame 10 of a backrest of an automobile seattogether with the side posts 12, 16 and the upper and lower crossbeams18 and 20. A flat and resiliently bending element 30 of comparativelylittle height runs in the lower area of the frame 10 closely above theseparation between the posts 12, 16. Said element 30 consists integrallyof plastic or of spring steel clad with plastic. The elastically bendingelement 30 may exhibit an arbitrary contour, for instance exhibitingspaced bulges. Such details however are omitted form the Figures. Theheight of the elastic element 30 is such that a person sitting on theomitted seat shall be situated with the lumbar vertebra in the vicinityof the elongated element 30.

[0018]FIG. 1 furthermore shows two bowden cables 22, 24 consisting inknown manner of a sheath 26 and a traction wire 26 a. A drive device 28not shown in further detail is mounted on the inside of the post 16 andby means of a handwheel 30 which is connected by a shaft 32 acts on thebowden cables 22, 24.

[0019] As shown by FIG. 2, a rest 34, 36 is configured in each end zoneof the elastic element 30. The traction wire 26 a of the bowden cables22, 24 runs in longitudinally displaceable manner through the rests 34and 36 resp. while the sheath 26 is supported at the rest 34 and 36. Thefree end of the traction wire 26 a is linked at 38 and 40 resp. to thepost 12 and 16. This linkage may include the insertion of a tensivelyelastic spring (not shown). FIG. 2 further shows that the linkage points38, 40 of the traction wire 26 a are situated toward the front side ofthe backrest resp. the sitting surface. As a result the elongatedelement 30 is suspended by means of the borden cables 22, 24.

[0020] A flexible mat or a grid 40 is mounted between the crossbeams 18,20, being affixed to the upper crossbeam 18 and mounted by the lowerside to the elongated element 30.

[0021] If, using the handwheel 30 and the drive device 28, tension isexerted on the traction wires 26 a, the elongated element 30 therebyshall be shifted forward parallel to itself in the direction of thearrow 42 (FIG. 2). By means of this manual adjustment, therefore, theposition of the elastically bending elongated element 30 may be shiftedforward or back as desired. Moreover height adjustment also may beimplemented (omitted) to adapt to the size of the sitting person.

[0022] The drive device 28 contains an appropriate transducer changing arotation of the handwheel 30 into a translation. This change can beimplemented for instance using a winch, a cam or in some other manner.of course an electric or other motor also may be used.

1. A seat for automobiles or the like, comprising an upward backrestfitted with a frame (10) and an adjusting device inside the backrest inthe region of the lumbar vertebras, characterized by the followingfeatures: an elongated, resiliently bending element (30) runningcrosswise in the frame (10), two bowden cables (22, 24) each comprisinga sheath (26) and a traction wire (26 a), a drive device (28, 30) at thebackrest (10) to apply tension to the traction wires (26 a), in eachcase one rest (34, 36) for a bowden cable sheath (26) in each end zoneof the elongated element (30) to pass the traction wire (26 a) inlongitudinally displaceable manner through said sheath, and anaffixation (38, 40) of the free end of the traction wire (26 a) to afacing part of the backrest frame whereby the elongated element (30) issuspended in such manner in the frame (10) that when tension is appliedto the traction wire (26 a) the elongated element (30) shall be displaceforward.
 2. Seat as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that thebinding affixation (38, 40) of the traction wires (26 a) to the frame(10) is configured in front of the elongated element (30) as seen in theseat vehicle's forward direction.
 3. Seat as claimed in either of claims1 and 2, characterized in that the binding of the traction wires (26 a)is mediated through a spring.
 4. Seat as claimed in one of claims 1through 3, characterized in that the elongated element (30) isintegrally made of plastic.
 5. Seat as claimed in one of claims 1through 3, characterized in that the elongated element (30) is made ofspring steel clad in plastic.
 6. Seat as claimed in one of claims 1through 5, characterized in that the elongated element (30) is supportedfrom a flexible mat (40), from a flexible grid or the like inside theframe (10).
 7. Seat as claimed in one of claims 1 through 6,characterized in that the bowden cables (22, 24) run into a common drivedevice (28, 30) at the backrest (10).
 8. Seat as claimed in one ofclaims 1 through 7, characterized in that the elongated element (30) issupported in height-adjustable manner inside the backrest and may beadjusted in height using a second drive device.